RedBirds in the white house

ATP’s new president says he hears players’ gripes

The new head of men’s tennis says he has heard the concerns of players “loud and clear” and plans to ensure they are addressed.

A players meeting ahead of the first major of the year reignited talk of a strike over conditions on tour. The main issues apparently revolve around an overcrowded schedule and prize money at Grand Slams.

Brad Drewett, the new chairman and president of the ATP and a former tour player, said the meeting — the first since he took over his new position on Jan. 1 — was no more heated than any other, but acknowledged there were issues that needed addressing.

“Certainly the other day, just like we’ve had any number of times, the players are very vocal about what’s on their mind,” he said at a Melbourne Park news conference on the third day of the Australian Open. “There is some frustration on certain points within the game.

“I heard the players loud and clear the other night about their issues.”

Baseball

Detroit Tigers star Victor Martinez could miss the entire 2012 season after injuring his left knee during offseason conditioning. Martinez, 33, tore his left ACL last week, and an MRI on Monday revealed the injury.

•Andre Ethier and James Loney have agreed to one-year contracts with the Los Angeles Dodgers that avoided salary arbitration. Ethier agreed at $10.95 million and Loney at $6,375,000.

•Milwaukee Brewers infielder Craig Counsell has decided to retire and join the club’s front office. Counsell, 41, played 15 seasons, the last five in his native city.

•The Brewers also announced that Japanese star outfielder Norichika Aoki has signed a two-year deal with a club option for 2014, and that reliever Francisco Rodriguez has agreed to an $8 million, one-year deal.

College football

Prized quarterback recruit Gunner Kiel is joining Notre Dame. Kiel, from Columbus, Ind., was rated by many scouting services as the top recruit in the nation.

•QB Pete Thomas has withdrawn from Colorado State University. Thomas (Valhalla High), who started his freshman and sophomore seasons for the Rams, has two years of eligibility remaining,

•Michigan cut wide receiver Darryl Stonum, who was sentenced to 10 days in jail this month, for a violation of team rules.

Local colleges

The unbeaten UC San Diego women’s basketball team has earned its first No. 1 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. The Tritons (16-0) received 26 of 31 first-place votes.

Soccer

Two San Diego State players were selected in the 2012 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft. Daniel Steres was picked ninth in the second round and 28th overall by Chivas USA, and Justin Davies was taken 19th in the fourth round (76th overall) by the L.A. Galaxy.

•Tijuana Xolos midfielder Joe Corona, who attended Sweetwater High and played at San Diego State, has been voted Rookie of the Year for the Mexico Apertura championship. The Mexican federation said Corona missed the award ceremony on Monday because he is training with the United States’ Under-23 team, which is preparing for Olympic qualifying.

NHL

Justin Williams and Mike Richards scored in the shootout to lift the Los Angeles Kings over the Canucks 3-2 in Vancouver. Williams, who also scored in regulation, beat Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo on his stick side while Richards, the fourth shooter, fired over his glove.

•The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed left wing R.J. Umberger, suffering from concussion symptoms, on injured reserve. No timetable has yet been set for his return.

Sports and courts

Former Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who is leaving school early to enter the NFL draft, was arrested on a marijuana possession charge.

•Memphis police will not conduct a criminal investigation into sexual misconduct accusations against former Amateur Athletic Union President Bobby Dodd, saying no one filed a formal complaint against him. ESPN reported last month that two former basketball players had accused Dodd of molesting them as children in Memphis and other locations.

•A trustee trying to recover money for investors in Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme was blocked from immediately appealing a ruling limiting how much the New York Mets’ owners might have to give up to other investors. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff said letting trustee Irving Picard appeal his September ruling would delay a trial set for March 19 and slow a final resolution of the case.

Golf

The LPGA’s KIA Classic, scheduled for March 22-25 at the La Costa Resort & Spa, is offering local charitable organizations a chance to raise funds through its new charity ticket program. Qualified charitable organizations will keep 50 percent of the proceeds from each ticket sold. For registration and program information, contact Chad Seufert in the tournament office at
chad.seufert@lpga.com or (888) 733-5742.

Miscellany

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill into law legalizing sports betting in the state — but only after a federal ban on such gambling is overturned.